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City Council President Neal Anderson grabs a sample of Redbones barbeque.

By Jarret Bencks, Town Correspondent

Redbones barbeque plans to open a new location in Malden, and made an introduction to the city by handing out free samples outside Malden Government Center Monday afternoon.

The popular Somerville restaurant and bar, which also operates a food truck, will open a restaurant and nano-brewery at the former Rosebud Farms store at 333 Commercial St., Redbones owner Rob Gregory said Monday.

Gregory said the restaurant will include an outdoor, picnic-style eating area with counter service for food and drinks.

"We're going to make this a fun project," Gregory said. "It's going to be great."

Gregory and Caryn Whitney opened the Davis Square mainstay in 1987. The new location in Malden is part of expansion efforts that have included a kiosk in Kendall Square and a food truck that serves the Greater Boston area. They have no intentions of closing or moving their original location, Gregory said.

"That's the mothership," he said. "We're sending out some satellites."

Gregory and Whitney were joined by local officials on Commercial Street in Malden Monday afternoon to announce the plans. The Redbones food truck and a portable smoker were on hand to cook up rib samples.

Mayor Gary Christenson touted the restaurant as an attraction that will bring in visitors from beyond the city, as well as serve Malden residents.

"When you look at what they offer, you can really make a day out of it," he said.

Gregory said he didn't have an official opening date yet, but would like to get the restaurant open as soon as possible. A kitchen needs to be installed, along with the other standard restaurant fixtures, and a liquor license needs to be obtained, he said.

The nano-brewery marks a new endeavor for Redbones, which has offered many local beers on tap in Somerville, but never its own brews. The beer will be sold at the restaurant, and bottles will be available to take home, Gregory said.

"It seemed like a natural step for us," he said. "Where we go with that, I don't know."